By all appearances, 2025 isn’t shaping up to be a breakout year for the outdoor industry, but that might be exactly what makes it remarkable.

In a recent conversation with Gabe Maier, President of the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, it’s clear that the specialty outdoor retail sector is finding strength in something far less flashy than explosive growth: stability. And after a few years of whiplash from the pandemic boom-and-bust cycle, that’s a welcome shift.

Grassroots, a coalition of independent outdoor retailers and the brands that support them, has long served as a bellwether for the health of the specialty market. Their twice-annual Connect trade shows have evolved into more than just buying events. They’re incubators for strategy, community, and shared insight. This year, they’re also a proving ground for resilience.

Solid Footing in a Shaky Landscape

According to Maier, the Grassroots network experienced a 1.35% increase in sales in Q2 2025 compared to the same period last year. On the surface, that may seem modest, but when paired with flat comps across the first half of the year and steady profit margins, it tells a deeper story: one of businesses learning to operate with discipline, intention, and foresight.

After a tough run of negative comps throughout 2023 and into early 2024, Grassroots members began reporting signs of life last August. That trend continued into the new year, not with soaring numbers, but with consistency. In today’s volatile retail climate, where tariffs loom, inventory gluts linger, and public lands access remains a moving target, consistent performance is its own kind of win.

The Bottom Line: Strength in Strategy

Specialty outdoor retail in 2025 may not be soaring, but it’s standing tall. In many ways, this moment is the industry’s quiet pivot from reactive recovery to proactive strategy. Margin control, data fluency, curated assortments, and authentic customer experiences are taking center stage.

In Maier’s view, that’s how the best specialty retailers will continue to thrive, not by chasing the next spike, but by building the kind of businesses that can weather any storm. Or, in this case, hike the long trail with confidence.

Read the entire conversation HERE